Sharing the Holy Light

By Brenda Dalton Clemens

Sharing the Holy Light tells the story of Paulus, a former guard of the Apostle Paul, and of Paulus' sister Livia. As a new "Christ follower", Paulus struggles to find answers about his new faith and the God he now claims to serve. His search for answers takes him to Ephesus, where he meets the Apostle John. In this encounter, he learns many of the stories of Jesus and His life on earth. Livia and her husband Tatius have settled in Arelate (Arles), in Southern Gaul, and have begun a successful Christian ministry to the people of that region.

Sharing the Holy Light is set during the time just before the death of Emperor Nero and in the tumultuous years that follow. It is a time of unrest and violence, and, as "Christ followers", the book's characters are caught in the web of uncertainty that engulfs the entire Roman Empire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664228405

Brenda Dalton Clemens

Brenda Dalton Clemens wrote her first book The Light Will Come during and after the terminal illness of her first husband Robert Clemens. Her faith has been the source of healing, joy, and peace throughout her life. In Sharing the Holy Light, she has tried to show the blessings of these same God-given gifts for Christians of the First Century. Brenda Clemens (B.A. from Maryville College, and M.S. from the University of Tennessee) is retired after 38 years of teaching French. She currently lives with her second husband Lowell Sneed in Maryville, Tennessee.

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Copyright © 2021 Brenda Dalton Clemens.

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Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in

the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2839-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2841-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2840-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021906079

WestBow Press rev. date:  04/01/2021

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Part I

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Part II

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Part III

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Part IV

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Glossary of Terms

Acknowledgements

The idea for my first book The Light Will Come came from a Sunday School Class taught by my friend Irene Tomlinson. In her lesson, she wondered about the impact that Paul would have had on his guards while he was in a Roman prison. I found the question intriguing and started doing research on the history of Rome during that time. Then, I wrote a fictional account of what I felt could have happened to some of the guards. Writing the story was also a way to ease my grief after the death of my first husband Robert Clemens. That writing eventually became a book about the journey of a guard named Paulus and his becoming a believer in The Way.

The Light Will Come ended with the Light coming to Paulus. In Sharing The Holy Light, I wanted to describe how becoming believers still left many people with questions. The answers were not shown to them in a burst of certainty, as I felt was true for most of us as Christians.

Also, in the book I wanted to try to capture the utter thrill and joy of hearing the words of Jesus being read to believers for the first time. I can’t even imagine the emotions of hearing His words. I never intended to write another book after the first one, but I felt I needed to travel further with Paulus in his journey of faith.

In The Light Will Come, I tried to portray what I thought life would have been like for Christ Followers during the reign of Emperor Nero. Those years were times of persecution for Christians. In this book, I have continued setting the story in that time period as well as in the years after Nero’s death. That time was one of unrest and turmoil for Christians and for almost everyone in the Roman Empire. In one year after his death, there were four emperors: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and finally Vespasian. Various sources from those times documented the many rebellions in Rome and the provinces. The violence of those uprisings, as well as the violent deaths of the emperors, caused great fear and uncertainty among the general population within the Empire and especially the Christ Followers. In Sharing The Holy Light, I have attempted to show how the followers of The Way were caught up in this web of instability.

As for the Biblical content of the story, I used scripture for the placement of people and events as much as possible. For example, Paul states in Titus 1:5 that Titus is ministering to the believers on the island of Crete. In my story, the main character Paulus searches for Titus and those believers on Crete. Also, central to the entire book is that the Apostle John wrote and lived in the city of Ephesus. Most Biblical scholars agree that John lived and wrote from there and was the last of the twelve apostles to die. I have tried to show the tremendous responsibility that would have placed on him.

Again, as I said in my previous book, I pray that anyone who reads this story will know that I have written it with prayerful consideration and my love for God and His word.

Brenda Clemens

I want to dedicate this book to my husband Lowell Sneed, who has been my chief encourager and supporter from its beginning.

(Matthew 5:14-16) Jesus said, You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to every one in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

(John 12:46) I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

A map of the Roman Empire and a glossary

of terms are at the end of the book.

PART I

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Chapter 1

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PAULUS STOOD WATCHING the whitecaps on the turquoise waters of the Mare Nostrum in Ostia. He closed his eyes for a few moments, listening as the waves beat their rhythms onto the seashore. The sounds of the surf and the smells of the sea had a soothing effect on his troubled mind. A part of him still felt a kind of peace and a release from fear due to his sudden flash of belief in this Jew named Jesus Christ, but he was a practical man, not inclined to mystical experiences. The reality of the consequences of his newfound declaration of belief had come to rest heavily on his mind. His life was certainly going to change. How he handled this change was going to set a course, not only for his life, but for that of Philippa (his beloved and trusted servant), his son Antonius, and all the others who depended on him for their future.

Paulus opened his eyes and began walking in an attempt to clear his head of the many questions that were rushing through his mind. These questions seemed to him to be as strong as the waves crashing onto the shore. As he was walking, he felt a tug on his cloak. Turning quickly, he found Antonius walking behind him.

What are you doing here? You aren’t supposed to be at the docks by yourself! Paulus said a bit harshly.

Oh, I saw you leave and I thought you looked a bit worried, and I didn’t want you to be alone, replied Antonius.

Does Philippa know you followed me? questioned Paulus.

No, she was really busy overseeing some cleaning in the back part of the house. I really think it is already clean enough.

Paulus smiled as he listened to the little boy, who didn’t mind dirt on himself or in the house.

Well, she will worry when she finds you missing. You must hurry back before she becomes really concerned.

Oh, I told my friend, our stablehand Ametrus, to tell her where I had gone.

She’ll still worry. You know your ‘cousin’ could still be nearby, and I don’t want him to see you alone, said Paulus.

Antonius shivered and looked afraid for a moment. Then he looked at Paulus, smiled broadly, and said, I don’t worry about him anymore cause I’m ‘dopted’, and it makes you my father. You are strong enough to protect me from anything!

Paulus had a lump in his throat, partly from pride and partly from the enormous responsibility for the little boy that he loved so much.

Paulus had met the six-year old boy at this very spot a few months earlier. He had felt a strong connection to the bright and cheerful child from the beginning. When he found out Antonius’ story and saw the evidence of the beatings his caretaker (cousin) had inflicted on him, he took action immediately. He offered a sum of money to the brute who had housed Antonius and sparingly fed him. The cousin had only done so because Emperor Nero offered him money. Paulus became so fond of the child that with the help of his Uncle Cornelius, a Roman Senator, he had legally adopted Antonius as his son.

Seeing the serious look on Paulus’ face, Antonius said, Father, you know you can talk to me about anything. I will listen very carefully.

Paulus smiled, Oh, my dear Antonius, these are adult problems I’m thinking about. They are not worries for a little boy.

Antonius thought for a moment and then said, But I know about big adult problems. I don’t think they could be as bad as my problems were. Nothing could be as bad as losing all of your family.

You’re right, my son. You have had adult problems, but I just want you to be happy and not worry now, continued Paulus.

Antonius had lost his father, mother, and siblings in the Great Roman Fire. His home burned, and no relatives were found to take him in. Emperor Nero offered money to people to care for the many orphans throughout the city. After some time living on the open grounds at the Campus Martius, a man claiming to be a distant cousin took money to care for Antonius and brought him to Ostia. There, he was starved and beaten. Paulus met him at the docks and finally, in exchange for some gold coins, took him to his home to become his adopted son. Antonius and his family had been Christ followers, and the child’s confession of faith had played a major role in Paulus’ own acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

Paulus smiled to himself as he looked at Antonius, and he knew this boy had completely stolen his heart. It was also true that he had shared his feelings with the small boy. Until meeting Antonius, he had not talked with anyone about his life in a serious way since his sister Livia had left the family. In years past, most of his conversations with friends had been about battles or games at the arenas. He and his fellow soldiers had spent their days in a continuous cycle of military training and seeking pleasure. But now all that had changed because of an incident that seemed of little note at the time.

Paulus had been an excellent Roman soldier, the son of Atticus, a celebrated veteran of many Roman campaigns. His father was of the honorable Livy family, and Paulus was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps as a warrior. However, due to an unfortunate incident, he became involved in a fight with another soldier. Refusing to tell his superiors the reason for the fight (which was about protecting his sister’s reputation), he was pulled from his maniple and assigned, as punishment, to be a guard for a Jewish prisoner named Paul. He had hated this demeaning duty, even though he found the prisoner and his many visitors called Christ followers rather intriguing.

As Paulus was remembering those days, he felt another tug on his cloak. Antonius said, Sir, I can look for some shells for you, if you want to sit and rest. Seashells always make me happy! Antonius, in truth, was having some trouble in matching the long strides of Paulus as they walked.

Paulus then noticed that Antonius was a bit out of breath and, taking the hint, stopped and propped against a wall for a bit.

I would really like some pretty shells, he said to the child. We could take them to Philippa. I’m sure she would enjoy them.

Antonius happily ran (not so tired now it seemed) and began looking for shells. After much serious searching and discarding of all kinds of seashells, he brought one rather large shell to Paulus.

Look at the colors on the shell when the sun shines on it! It would be really pretty in the atrium. Do you think Miss Philippa would like it? asked Antonius.

Paulus examined it and for the first time in his life, he noticed the beauty and symmetry of a seashell.

"It is lovely, he said. She’ll like the pink and white shimmering of the colors."

Oh, I’m not finished, said Antonius, but you can hold this while I look for another one. He ran away, again searching the sand for the perfect shell.

Antonius’ comment about Philippa brought Paulus back to another of his concerns. He was in love with Philippa. He was completely sure of it. Although she was his servant, he knew she was his equal in so many ways. Thanks to her Greek father, who was a teacher, she had a vast amount of knowledge—perhaps superior to his own. After she lost her mother and twin brother in the fire, Paulus had felt a great responsibility to take care of her. He had become fond of her and her family before the fire, and since the fire, his attraction to her had grown. She now ran the household in Ostia with great efficiency, and she adored Antonius. But if he married her, there would be no dowery nor an alliance with another powerful Roman family. Truthfully, he didn’t need the dowery, nor was he particularly concerned with political power. However, she was an open Christ follower, and he knew this could put her life as well as his in jeopardy. Paulus knew she loved him as well (thanks to Antonius’ eavesdropping on her prayers), but they had never talked of their mutual love. He needed advice in so many areas of his life. Now that he also had become a believer, he really didn’t know how he was supposed to live. As he was having these thoughts, Antonius came back excitedly saying, Look, look! I see a big ship! Do you think we could take a trip someday? I think I would like to be a sailor. I’d like to see what’s on the other side of the sea. Have you ever been on a ship? Do you want …

Get your breath, my son. You ask almost as many questions as my sister Livia!

You have a sister? I want to meet her. Could we go to see her? Do you think she would like me?

I’m sure she would. Go find some more shells and then we must go home. I’ll tell you more about my sister Livia later, said Paulus.

Antonius trotted back to the shoreline in search of more shells. Antonius’ questions also caused Paulus to go over in his mind the reasons for his lack of contact with his beloved sister. Paulus had adored his sister, and he missed her terribly. He wondered if she were still in Italia or, for that matter, if she were still alive. An odd set of circumstances had broken their strong family ties. Somewhat by accident, Tatius, a son of another guard for the prisoner Paul, met his sister Livia. Tatius and his family were secret Christ followers. Tatius was a confidant of Paul and had quickly led Livia to become a believer in Jesus Christ. In a short time, Tatius and Livia began a romance and eventually ran away together. At least, that is what he supposed had happened. No one in either of their families had heard anything from them.

Now that he thought about it, her searching for a new belief had probably started long before she met Tatius. Paulus and Livia used to talk a lot. She was an avid learner and scholar. She had tried to talk to Paulus about her questions concerning their Roman gods, but he wasn’t very interested. Unfortunately, he now recalled his boasting to her about his training, his horsemanship, his prowess in wrestling matches, and his military training. She had listened faithfully, but he could tell she found his stories shallow and uninteresting—that is until he became a guard for the prisoner Paul. She had wanted to know all about the Jew. Never in his imagination could he have thought that his forced punishment as a guard would change their lives forever. His father learned of Livia’s becoming a Christ follower and completely rejected her. Livia left and his father died a short time afterwards. Then, the fire had burned his home in Rome and many of his father’s businesses as well. Paulus had been given permission to leave the military in order to take over the family businesses. He had then moved his entire household to the family’s summer home near the seaport of Ostia, where he now lived and ran his businesses.

These last couple of years had been beyond his wildest imaginings. He had had great sorrows: his father’s death, Livia’s leaving, the Roman fire which burned his home and much of the city, the deaths of many of his friends, and, to be truthful, the death of his former prisoner Paul. Of course, there had been joys as well: his developing love for Philippa, the gaining of a son Antonius, a refurbished home near the sea at Ostia, and a realization that he was now a follower (or at least a believer) of the crucified Jesus Christ.

As he was musing over the past, Antonius returned. This time, instead of a shell, the child clutched a piece of driftwood. This looks like a little boat, doesn’t it? I’m going to put it in my box of treasures. Will you hold it for me while I look for more great things?

Of course, answered Paulus with a smile. As he felt the warmth in the driftwood that Antonius had found on the sunny sand, he began again to seek answers as to what he should do.

He remembered another sunny day out in the garden with Antonius. The child was showing him his treasures that he kept in his little box. There was a rock, a long feather, and a shell—all with special meanings for Antonius. The little boy then showed him an oddly shaped twig which looked like a cross that the Romans used for crucifixions. Antonius said, This reminds me of how Jesus Christ died. The sunlight shone down on that rough piece of wood, and Paulus had a strange feeling of peace and calm.

The words of his prisoner Paul came back to him at that moment. Paul had said, The light will come to you, Paulus. Paulus had heard Paul tell his story over and over of his conversion on the road to Damascus. He had been blinded by a light and he heard these words, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? (Acts 9:4)

Paulus thought to himself, I didn’t have a blinding light from heaven. I simply had sunlight, a twig, and a little boy looking at me with eyes of faith and love. Then, I believed and I still do.

In the past, Paulus had almost laughed as the visitors to Paul had run on and on about Jesus taking their sins away on a cross. He had seen such crucifixions, and there was nothing glorious about the horrible suffering of those who were executed. But these Christ followers felt his death was significant, and now, so did Paulus.

Since that day in the garden, Paulus had prayed and prayed, and he needed answers to his many questions. He knew that Philippa could respond to some of his issues, but his feelings for her were so strong that the two emotions of love and his new belief would be in conflict. In fact, since that afternoon in the garden, he had mostly stayed away from Philippa. How he wished now that Paul were still alive and he could talk to him. Perhaps, Tatius or Livia would have helped him if they were still in Rome, but they had both left without a trace. Now, Paulus alternated between a peaceful joy and complete panic as to what